Incident: CIA's 'Dumbo' Tool Corrupts Recordings on Windows Computers.

Published Date: 2017-08-03

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident involving the hacking tool 'Dumbo' used by the CIA was revealed by WikiLeaks on 2017-08-03 [62621].
System The system that failed in the software failure incident described in Article 62621 is: 1. Microsoft Windows operating system (including Windows XP and newer versions) [62621]
Responsible Organization 1. The CIA was responsible for causing the software failure incident as they developed and utilized the hacking tool 'Dumbo' to disable security cameras and corrupt recordings on computers running Microsoft Windows [62621].
Impacted Organization 1. Security cameras and recordings made on computers using Windows XP and newer versions of the Microsoft operating system were impacted by the hacking tool revealed by WikiLeaks [62621].
Software Causes 1. The software cause of the failure incident was a hacking tool named 'Dumbo' used by the CIA to disable security cameras and corrupt recordings on computers running Windows XP and newer versions of the Microsoft operating system [62621].
Non-software Causes 1. The failure incident was caused by a hacking tool named 'Dumbo' developed by the CIA, which requires an agent to directly access a computer using a USB thumb drive [62621].
Impacts 1. The software failure incident revealed by WikiLeaks, known as 'Dumbo', allowed the CIA to disable security cameras and corrupt recordings on computers running Windows XP and newer versions of the Microsoft operating system [62621].
Preventions 1. Implementing strict access control measures to prevent unauthorized individuals from physically accessing computers and inserting USB drives [62621]. 2. Regularly updating and patching the operating system and software to address vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hacking tools like Dumbo [62621]. 3. Conducting thorough security audits and assessments to identify and mitigate potential security weaknesses in the system that could be exploited by such hacking tools [62621].
Fixes 1. Enhancing cybersecurity measures to prevent unauthorized access to computers and devices, such as implementing stronger authentication protocols and access controls [62621].
References 1. WikiLeaks [62621]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization, multiple_organization (a) The software failure incident related to the hacking tool 'Dumbo' used by the CIA has happened again within the same organization. WikiLeaks has previously released details of secret CIA projects, including the Vault 7 project, which contained information on various hacking tools and techniques used by the CIA [62621]. This indicates a pattern of software failure incidents within the CIA involving the use of such tools. (b) The software failure incident related to the hacking tool 'Dumbo' used by the CIA has also happened at multiple organizations. The release of information by WikiLeaks sheds light on how intelligence agencies like the CIA and NSA utilize software and hardware vulnerabilities to carry out cyber operations, indicating a broader issue of cybersecurity vulnerabilities across different organizations [62621].
Phase (Design/Operation) design, operation (a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the article [62621]. The incident involves a hacking tool developed by the CIA called 'Dumbo' that is designed to disable security cameras and corrupt recordings on computers running Microsoft Windows operating systems. This tool was created as part of a project by the CIA to manipulate monitoring and detection systems on target computers. The design of 'Dumbo' allows the operator to identify and control devices like webcams and microphones, stop processes related to these devices, and manipulate recordings to create fake or destroy actual evidence of intrusion operations. (b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase can also be observed in the same article [62621]. The operation of the 'Dumbo' tool requires an agent to directly access a computer holding recordings using a USB thumb drive. Additionally, the tool needs administrator privileges to carry out its tasks, indicating that the operation of 'Dumbo' involves specific procedures and actions that can lead to system vulnerabilities and potential misuse.
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system, outside_system (a) The software failure incident described in the article is within_system. The failure was caused by a hacking tool called 'Dumbo' developed by the CIA, which is designed to disable security cameras, corrupt recordings, and manipulate monitoring and detection systems on computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system. The tool is run directly from a USB stick and requires administrator privileges to carry out its tasks. It identifies and controls devices like webcams and microphones connected to the target computer, allowing the operator to stop processes related to recording, monitoring, or detection of video/audio/network streams. The tool aids in creating fake evidence or destroying actual evidence of intrusion operations [62621]. (b) The software failure incident is also outside_system as it involves a breach of security by an external entity, in this case, the CIA. The hacking tool 'Dumbo' is used by the CIA to infiltrate and manipulate systems running on Microsoft Windows, indicating an external threat to the security and integrity of the targeted computers [62621].
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions (a) The software failure incident in this case is related to non-human actions. The incident involves a hacking tool called 'Dumbo' developed by the CIA, which is designed to disable security cameras and corrupt recordings on computers running Windows operating systems. The tool is run directly from a USB stick and can identify, control, and manipulate monitoring and detection systems on the target computer without direct human intervention [62621]. (b) The software failure incident is not directly attributed to human actions in terms of introducing contributing factors that led to the failure.
Dimension (Hardware/Software) hardware, software (a) The software failure incident related to hardware: - The incident involves a hacking tool called 'Dumbo' used by the CIA, which requires an agent to directly access a computer holding recordings using a USB thumb drive [62621]. - Dumbo is run directly from a USB stick, indicating a hardware component involved in the operation of the hacking tool [62621]. (b) The software failure incident related to software: - The hacking tool 'Dumbo' is designed to suspend processes using webcams and corrupt video recordings on computers running on Microsoft Windows operating system [62621]. - Dumbo can identify, control, and manipulate monitoring and detection systems on a target computer running Windows OS, indicating a software aspect of the tool [62621].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) malicious (a) The software failure incident described in the article is malicious in nature. The incident involves a hacking tool called 'Dumbo' used by the CIA, as revealed by WikiLeaks. This tool is designed to disable security cameras, corrupt recordings, and manipulate monitoring and detection systems on computers running Microsoft Windows operating system. It requires an agent to directly access a computer using a USB thumb drive, indicating a deliberate intent to harm the system [62621].
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) poor_decisions (a) The intent of the software failure incident was related to poor_decisions. The failure was caused by the CIA's decision to develop and use hacking tools like 'Dumbo' to disable security cameras, corrupt recordings, and manipulate monitoring systems on computers running Microsoft Windows [62621].
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) development_incompetence, unknown (a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article as it discusses how the CIA's hacking tool, Dumbo, was designed to disable security cameras and corrupt recordings on computers running Windows XP and newer versions. The tool, created as part of a project called 'Dumbo,' required an agent to directly access a computer using a USB thumb drive. This incident highlights the professional competence of the developers behind the tool and the potential consequences of their actions [62621]. (b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is not explicitly mentioned in the provided article.
Duration temporary The software failure incident described in the article is temporary. The incident involves the use of a hacking tool called 'Dumbo' by the CIA to disable security cameras and corrupt recordings on computers running Windows XP and newer versions of the Microsoft operating system. The tool requires an agent to directly access a computer using a USB thumb drive to carry out the intrusion operation. It is mentioned that the tool can identify, control, and manipulate monitoring and detection systems on a target computer, indicating a temporary disruption caused by the intrusion [62621].
Behaviour crash, other (a) crash: The software failure incident described in the article can be categorized as a crash. The hacking tool named 'Dumbo' is designed to suspend processes using webcams and corrupt video recordings on computers running on Microsoft Windows. This results in the system losing its intended functionality of recording and monitoring video/audio streams, essentially crashing the surveillance capabilities of the targeted computer [62621]. (b) omission: The incident does not specifically mention a failure due to the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). (c) timing: The incident does not involve a failure due to the system performing its intended functions correctly, but too late or too early. (d) value: The software failure incident does not relate to a failure due to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. (e) byzantine: The incident does not involve a failure due to the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. (f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident can be categorized as a deliberate disruption of the system's surveillance capabilities through the use of the hacking tool 'Dumbo', which falls under the 'other' category of software failure behavior [62621].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception None None
Communication None None
Application None None

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence theoretical_consequence (a) unknown (b) unknown (c) unknown (d) unknown (e) unknown (f) unknown (g) no_consequence (h) theoretical_consequence (i) The software failure incident described in the article did not result in any real observed consequences. The potential consequences discussed were related to the capabilities of the hacking tool 'Dumbo' developed by the CIA, such as disabling security cameras, corrupting recordings, and manipulating monitoring systems on target computers. These actions could potentially lead to various consequences, but the article does not mention any specific real-world impacts or harm caused by the software failure incident.
Domain information (a) The software failure incident reported in the articles is related to the industry of information. The CIA hacking tool, Dumbo, was designed to manipulate monitoring and detection systems on target computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, specifically affecting devices like webcams and microphones [62621].

Sources

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